Two track questions

I try to keep some extra track on hand, two reasons, first if you want to add a siding it is easier, second if you ave an accident and you damage a track you can replace it if needed.

To clean rusty track some sand paper works good or a grinding wheel on a drill. You just have to be careful when using a drill.

To clean the track ends on the inside, try a Q-tip with rubbing alcohol on it.

If the track is too rusty it sees the trash can. Why save rusty track? I don't use it even for a shelf section, a little dirty ok, but rusty no way. Rust has a habit of working it's way to your wheels as well.

Lee Fritz

Sandpaper and grinding wheels?  Those are two things I don't bring near my track!

I'd recommend Scotchbrite and/or a wire wheel to clean the rust.  Note that you only have to clean the tops of the rails and inside the ends for the pins for proper operation.

I use little steel brushes from McMaster Carr to clean out the pin holes.

Surplus track?  How much, I agree with Lee about having some, but not boxes of it. 

I avoid using wire brushes or sandpaper on my track.  Little bristles of the wire will get into your engines once you start running them and sand paper is even worse because tiny particles will get into your gears. 

I use a Brightboy or ink erasers which you can get from any hobby store, staples or on the internet.  It works wonderfully and it is easy to clean off and the particles are not metal or stone residue.  Badly rusted track - just dump it  - it's cheap. 

Good luck on your project.  Have fun and you know almost any problem you have will be answered with ten different solutions here on the forum.  But, it's up to you to choose the best answer for you...

Build an elevated level for a second train. Keep the track brand that you use, sell or dump the rest.

Thanks for the suggestions so far. Wood asked "how much track?"  Well, about 100 pcs of tubular, mostly 042 & straights. Full circles of 054 & 045 Atlas, along with 5 40" sections and a few dozen ancillary pcs.

GunrunnerJohn, thanks for reminding me of ScotchBrite. Duhhh.... I built my own airplane, so have literally several stacks of it still sitting around.  And, thanks for the McMaster-Carr link. I've used them for stuff for the plane as well, so am quite familiar with them.

do a search for track cleaning.  lots of info there.

You can get a 5 gallon container of Evapo-Rust for ~$85 and soak the track clean and save it all. No damage to the track at all.

Just a thought, as you have that much track.

Thanks, Moonman; I have a smaller bottle of (?) a similar product from a few years ago. I'll give that a try on a piece or two. Hadn't thought of that....

Just curious as I haven't tried it, what does the Evapo-Rust do to the paper center track insulator?  I've used it on a lot of things, but I haven't tried the track yet.

Curious to. I have a large box of Marx track that is rusty that I aquired years ago for free.

Excellent point, as usual, John. I wasn't aware of the paper insulators. Getting paper wet can't be good. Oh well.

I'd dunk a few and see if it kills the paper insulators, maybe they'll survive after they dry out.  They are an oily fish paper of some kind.

Evapo - Rust and similar products can remove the bluing from the ties on tubular track. Been there - done that.